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DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa dentist did not discriminate against a female assistant he fired for
being “too attractive,” the Iowa Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday in its second decision
in the case.

In December, the all-male court ruled that Dr. James Knight did not discriminate in firing
dental hygienist Melissa Nelson after more than 10 years because he found her too attractive and
his wife saw her as a threat.

In late June, after much Internet condemnation of the decision, the justices decided to
reconsider the case.

“Nelson was terminated because of the activities of her consensual personal relationship with
her employer, not because of her gender,” Chief Justice Mark Cady wrote in Friday’s decision.

Knight had hired Nelson in 1999 and on several occasions in the 18 months before he fired her in
early 2010, he complained that her clothing was too tight, revealing and distracting, the decision
said. She denied wearing anything inappropriate.

She and Knight began texting each other in 2009, the opinion said. Most messages were innocuous,
but some were more suggestive.

In late 2009, Knight’s wife, Jeanne Knight, learned that her husband had been texting with
Nelson while he was on an out-of-state vacation with their children, and she insisted he fire her,
saying “she was a big threat to our marriage,” the opinion said.

Knight read Nelson a statement when he fired her that said in part that their relationship had
become a detriment to both of their families.

None of the lawyers involved in the case could be reached for comment.

Todd Pettys, associate dean of the University of Iowa College of Law, said it was unclear why
the court decided to rehear the case, given that the justices did not change their positions.

“It appears to me what they really wanted to do was take another shot at explaining.”